DeChambeau takes 1-shot lead as Woods lurks at Memorial

DDeChambeau going into Sunday, but not by much.

He was at 14-under 202, and even DeChambeau couldn’t help but look back at two short birdies that got away.

“Just keep thinking about those two 3-footers I missed,” said DeChambeau, who was at 14-under 202. “I played great, obviously. Ecstatic about where I am.”

DeChambeau wasn’t even sure where he was when he finished because so many players worked their way up and down the leaderboard over the final two hours. He wound up with a one-shot lead over Kyle Stanley, who bogeyed the 18th hole from the bunker for a 70; Cantlay, who drove into the creek left of the 18th fairway for a bogey and a 66; and Niemann, who atoned for one big mistake on the 15th hole with a birdie on the 18th for a 70.

Six players had at least a share of the lead at some point.

Byeong Hun An played bogey-free for a 69 and was two shots behind, while Justin Rose dropped two shots over the last three holes for a 69 and was four back.

Woods played the last five holes of the front nine in 5 under, starting with his second eagle of the week. And then he stalled, just like he did on Friday. He didn’t make another birdie until the par-5 15th, when his sharp-breaking 15-footer dropped to give him a tie for the lead.

That didn’t last long. Woods ran his 45-foot birdie putt about 7 feet by on the par-3 16th and missed it coming back, and then closed by missing a 3-foot par putt.

More thunderstorms were expected Sunday. The final round will be threesomes teeing off earlier than usual to account for the forecast.

“The weather is going to be a little iffy,” Woods said. “But I’m in a position where if I shoot another good round like I had the last two days, I’ve got a chance.”

Rory McIlroy, remarkably, has reason to feel the same way.

McIlroy nearly missed the cut, surviving on the number after two days. He played bogey-free for a 64 and wound up just six shots behind. Just like Woods and DeChambeau, he had a few regrets on the greens. McIlroy missed three birdie chances inside 8 feet.